Quantum computing stocks are drawing fresh attention as industry advances and new federal policy direction create a compelling setup for the second half of 2026.
Five pure-play quantum computing companies have lagged Wall Street’s broader rally year to date, yet analysts see enormous price upside ahead for each of them.
The companies identified are D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), Rigetti Computing (RGTI), IonQ (IONQ), Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT), and Quantinuum (QNT).
The Trump administration’s executive orders issued on June 22 represent a significant shift in U.S. quantum policy, moving emphasis from basic research toward commercialization, deployment, and national security applications.
That policy pivot reflects growing recognition of quantum computing as a strategic technology critical to economic competitiveness, cybersecurity, and defense capabilities.
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) continues advancing its annealing platform through Advantage2 and the Leap cloud service, while extending into gate-model computing following the Quantum Circuits acquisition in January 2026.
QBTS is targeting roughly 175 physical qubits by the end of 2028, then 10 logical qubits by 2030 and 100 logical qubits by the end of 2032, alongside growing commercial annealing applications.
D-Wave carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with expected revenue and earnings growth of 63.3% and 77.5% respectively, and analyst price targets suggesting upside of as much as 166% from its last close of $16.92.
Rigetti Computing (RGTI) is scaling modular superconducting systems with general availability of its 108-qubit system, and management is targeting quantum advantage in approximately three years, with revenue growth expected to exceed 100% this year.
Analysts have set a brokerage price target range of $20 to $40 for RGTI, representing a maximum upside of 183.7% from its last closing price of $14.10.
IonQ (IONQ) is broadening its platform beyond quantum compute access into networking, sensing, and security, with first-quarter 2026 revenues rising sharply year over year and management raising full-year guidance.
The pending SkyWater deal for IONQ could tighten the hardware supply loop, while recent acquisitions add optical communications and software capabilities to an expanding product portfolio.
Analyst price targets for IONQ range from $48.50 to $100, representing a maximum upside of 184.9% from its last closing price of $35.10, with no downside indicated.
Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) operates as an integrated photonics company, developing thin-film lithium niobate chips, the entropy quantum computer, a quantum photonic vibrometer, and quantum authentication products for commercial and government markets.
Analyst price targets for QUBT range from $10 to $30, representing a maximum upside of 292.7% from its last closing price of $7.64, making it arguably the most striking risk/reward case among the five.
Quantinuum (QNT) manufactures quantum computing hardware and software domestically and internationally, offering an integrated platform combining hardware systems, middleware, and application software for real-world deployment.
QNT’s expected revenue growth rate for next year stands at 67.3%, with analyst price targets ranging from $78 to $155, representing a maximum upside of 174.2% from its last closing price of $56.52.
Across all five names, brokerage targets indicate no downside from current levels, with average upside estimates ranging from roughly 75% for Quantinuum to nearly 140% for Quantum Computing Inc.
The combination of accelerating technical milestones, expanding government contracts, rising commercial deal sizes, and the administration’s new commercialization-focused quantum directives forms a powerful backdrop for these stocks.
Investors watching the quantum computing sector may find that the second half of 2026 represents a defining window, as policy tailwinds and product roadmap progress converge across all five of these pure-play names.
